This online essay explains that heroic comedy is not really a genre--it is a term that Rostand called his own play in order to describe the special type of play that he was attempting to create. This author works on explaining to us what he meant.

This page describes in detail how a siege was conducted in the 1600s. Did you know a 24-pound cannon can throw a cannonball over 1,800 meters? That's something to worry about when you're laying siege to a city! :)

The Siege of Arras in 1640, the primary battle mentioned in Cyrano, took place during the Thirty Years' War, which was from 1618-1648. Don't confuse it with the Battle of Arras during World War II, much later!! This site is written by a student, but a very specialized one--a student who got a grant from the British government to research fortresses like Arras. It has good info about this battle.